Free school meals
When your child receives free school meals, your school will also benefit with additional funding to use in the school.
Universal free school meals
Every child can receive a universal free school meal if they are in:
- reception
- year one, or
- year two
You do not need to apply online. Your school will give you a form to complete.
Income related free school meals
Your child can receive income related free school meals in any year at school. This includes nursery children if they attend before and after lunch at a local authority nursery school or nursery class.
If you receive any of the benefits below, you can claim free school meals.
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance Income based
- Employment Support Allowance Income related
- Support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Universal Credit - your earned income must be less than £7,400 a year
If your child receives free school meals, they will continue to receive them until the end of the 2025/26 school year. After this time, if you no longer meet the criteria, free school meals will end.
Sixth form colleges
If your child attends any of the sixth forms below, they can receive income related free school meals
- Turton
- Thornleigh
- Canon Slade
- Firwood and Rumworth
- Rivington and Blackrod
- Bolton St Catherine's Academy
- University Collegiate School (UTC)
If the sixth form is not listed above, you will need to contact the sixth form to receive free school meals.
People with no recourse to public funds
If you have no recourse to public funds and you have a child in school, you may also be entitled to free school meals.
Applying for free school meals
You do not need to apply for free school meals if:
- you already receive or have recently applied for housing benefit or council tax support
- your child is in receipt of free school meals and moves from primary school to secondary school. Their entitlement to free school meals will automatically continue at their new school.
- you have already applied for help with school uniforms, we will look at the free school meals at the same time and you do not need to apply separately
You need to apply for free school meals if:
- you do not receive housing benefit or council tax support
The same rules apply for those starting school or moving school.
Asylum Seekers
If you are receiving support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 you must contact Achievement Cohesion and Integration Service (ACIS).